Aromatherapy for the Common Cold

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Aromatherapy for the Common Cold

 

The common cold is a viral infection of the lining of the nose,

sinuses,

throat and large airways. There are many different viruses, which

cause colds and

why some people are more susceptible to colds than others isn't

entirely known

but this time of the year often finds people battling colds and

their

uncomfortable symptoms. People under prolonged stress are often more

susceptible to

colds.

 

Symptoms of the common cold start 1 Ö 3 days after infection. The

first

symptom is usually a discomfort in the nose or throat. Then the

sneezing starts and

one has a runny nose with copious watery secretions. Although a

fever doesn't

usually develop with a common cold there is sometimes a slight fever

when the

symptoms are beginning. Many people will also develop a cough.

Symptoms will

usually disappear in 4 Ö 10 days although a cough can often last

into the

second week. Most colds are readily diagnosed based on the typical

symptoms,

however bacterial infections and allergies can cause similar

symptoms. The same

viruses that cause colds can also cause symptoms similar to

influenza. A high

fever usually suggests that the infection is not a simple cold.

Traditional

treatment is that one should stay warm, comfortable and drink plenty

of liquids.

 

Prevention is always better than cure? And while the cure for the

common cold

still eludes us -- here are a few ways in which essential oils can

be used to

make the cold sufferer more comfortable and help support the immune

system

fight off the virus.

 

Colds are spread through the air when the infected droplets are

coughed or

sneezed into the air so your first line of defense should be to get

a blend of

essential oils into the air around you. Vaporize, diffuse or mist

spray your

blend into the room around you. The right essential oil blend can

help to clean

the air around you so that you don? t re-infect yourself or infect

others

around you.

 

Tip: As a preventative measure diffuse or mist spray a germ busting

blend of

essential oils. This could help prevent colds from developing.

 

 

A drop or two of your cold fighting blend can be added to a tissue

to be

sniffed as needed. Adding your blend to a warm bath can help not

only relax one

but also to clear up the congested passages. Add your blend to a

base cream or

carrier oil and apply to the chest, upper back and sinus area.

 

Check below under the section Ways Aromatherapy Can Be Used for the

correct

number of drops of the blend to be used depending on the method of

administration.

 

To make up a mist spray -- fill a spray bottle with 125 ml distilled

water or

hydrosol and add 18 drops of your essential oil or blend to this.

Shake well

before using. Spray into the room or around your head and shoulders

Ö do not

spray directly into the face.

 

 

There are quite a lot of essential oils you can consider using when

suffering

from colds Ö these include:

 

Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) Ö has mucolytic properties

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) Ö has expectorant and decongestant

properties

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Ö has antiviral properties.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globules) Ö has antiviral, decongestant,

expectorant

and mucolytic properties.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata) Ö has antiviral and expectorant

properties

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus smithii) Ö has antiviral and decongestant

properties

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) Ö has expectorant and mucolytic

properties

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Ö has expectorant properties

Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) Ö has antiviral and antiseptic

properties.

Spike Lavender (Lavendula latifolia) Ö has expectorant and antiviral

properties

Lemon (Citrus limonum) Ö has antiviral, decongestant and calming

properties.

Marjoram (Origanum majorana) Ö has antiviral properties

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) - has antiseptic properties

Niaouli (Melaleuca viridiflora) Ö has strongly antiviral and

decongestant

properties

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Ö has expectorant and mucolytic

properties

Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Ö has expectorant properties

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Ö has expectorant, decongestant

and

mucolytic properties

Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) - has antiviral properties

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Ö has expectorant properties

Oregano (Thymus vulgaris) Ö has antiviral properties